Rapper Stinky Dink has 'five for Fenty'

This much we now know: There is at least one rapper out there capable of working affordable housing, homeless policy, and the Summer Youth Employment Program into his flow.

That would be none other than Stinky Dink, the hip-hop/go-go fusion MC still fondly remembered in this town for his 1991 hit "One Track Mind."

He's getting "politically raw" on his latest track, "Fire for Fenty" "Five for Fenty." The chorus goes like this: "I got fire five for Fenty / I got fire five so vote with me / I got fire five for Fenty / he represent the whole D.C."

Mayor Adrian Fenty's impresario-in-chief, Ron Moten, promises me he'll have the track pumping across the city within weeks: "All the clubs, all the the DJs, all the events!" It's the first of three pro-Fenty cuts he's helped commission, paid for by the incumbent's campaign. It joins other musical outreach efforts coordinated by Moten, including a series of go-go concerts.

Moten says Stinky Dink was an obvious choice to deliver the pro-Fenty message. "He's a storyteller," he says. "He's been around us for a while. He knows everything the mayor's done."

And how. Some sample rhymes:

"If you in the game, you can take it from a playa / the grass ain't greener over there, it look Gray-er / use your brain when you choose a name / if you all about the city let my dude remain."

"A lot more sweat, less blood and tears / got the lowest murder rate in 'bout 40 years / 22,000 jobs for the young'uns / so they can do somethin' constructive for the summer."

"Crime gone down like wheels on heels and the young'uns with the skills got football fields / gettin' knowledge and they get to show college their skills / crime, youth, and education, that's keepin' it real."

"About to press my slacks then address the facts / you don't mess with success, we can check the stats / I can put 'em in your face like aggressiveness / so you can see Vince Gray can't mess with that / the city is bustlin', we under construction / before Mayor Fenty, we wasn't building up nothing / Southeast shinin' like a fresh-cut diamond / now that take work, and work take grindin'."

And as the chorus plays, actor and Backyard Band frontman Anwan "Big G" Glover can be heard calling out: "Four more years -- let's take 'em to the polls, cuz!"

Fenty isn't the first mayoral candidate to commission a hip-hop track to promote his candidacy. In 2006, Michael A. Brown released "Get Down With Brown" to promote his youth-focused platform. It didn't get him far -- Brown dropped out shortly before the primary to endorse Linda Cropp.

Also, Fenty isn't the first politician round these parts to get musical this election cycle. Let's not forget "Servant of the People," the campaign theme of Prince George's County executive candidate Sam Dean. As if that were even possible.

UPDATE, 7/28, 7:25 A.M.: So this reporter's ears have failed him. It's not "Fire for Fenty," Moten tells me, it's "Five for Fenty" -- as in, vote for Fenty and get five friends to vote for him, too. Personally, I like my version better.

UPDATE, 7/28, 11:05 A.M.: Award-winning music critic (and ex-Post freelancer) Sarah Godfreytweets this morning that "Five for Fenty" is inspired by the 1995 Luniz track "I Got 5 on It." And what does is "I Got 5 on It" about? Wikipedia says the title is "a phrase meaning to pay half for a dime bag (a 10 dollar bag of weed) with another person."

This rap and concept is so ignorant and exactly why Fenty does not need to be in office. It is a true testament to what Fenty and Moten think about young African Americans in this city. As a parent, I am disgusted by the dumbing down of these two characters. Even more reason to vote for Gray.

O could not be more insulted by this blatant, racial, stereotypical view of what challenges black youth. I am the mother of two young males 19 and 22 and they have a much broader and informed view about DC politics than what a RAP song would give them.

If you wanted to bring awareness to an issues music can be a powerful tool, but to dumb it down to the juvenile level of this one hit wonder from the EARLY 90's, these young people were no older than 1,2,3 and 4 years old when this no-body in teh world of rap music as spitting his lyrical styling.

This elementary school rapper is no Wil-I-Am, he is no Wyclef, and Ronald Moten is no P-Diddy or Russell Simmons.

Please, black parents teach our youth better than this and those who don't need to.

You really insult alot of people. And not lightweight insults. You make them out to be demons and/or idiots and/or thieves.

You go overboard. And, while you make make a valid point during your one man game of "the dozens"...in total, you seem spiteful and severely biased. You attempt to marginalize and/or demonize anyone that vocally supports Fenty?

And that "elementary school rapper", has probably lived in te district his entire life. And, he propably learned music while in a DC elementary school (without boilers, airconditioning, athletic facilities, or competent staff).

His music is part of something called culture. And, he is part of Washington DC culture to boot. So, feel free to pull your nose out of the air.

By the way, I saw a man let his dog charge a kid he thought was a campaign worker. She wasn't. Dog ran up to her snarling and nipping. Girl couldn't have been more than 18-19. The Man was drunk complaining about meters in taxi cabs. The actual canvasers had to tell the man that she wasn't with them.Just thought I would share what type of hate all that political rhetoric can cause. Fenty is a man. you disagree with him. Keep it at that. You get a vote. Use it. Otherwise, please show some culture. Civilized people disagree without disparaging.

Wow, I knew fenty was lame but this really takes the cake. While I was never going to vote for Fenty, this seals the deal. How insulting to youth. Heck, insulting to anyone within earshot of this crap.

Does this mean people will be paid five dollars to vote? Or are they being lured to vote with illicit drugs? This is utterly ridiculous, so undignified and exactly the reason things need to change. Who in their right mind would allow the release garbage like this? I like all sorts of music but this is so inappropriate and so wrong on so many levels!! To represent our nation's capital in such a reprehensible manner is patently absurd and insulting.

Using a reference to the drug trade to become relected? Wow. Fenty is still playing the "I got you sucker" game that he played during his campaign; fooling people, making fake promises, and then changing like a chamelion. He's even insulting the demographics that are party to this BS. FENTY IS A ONE-TIME MAYOR!

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